There’s a chill in the air…

And this means a number of things for me: (1) Boots and sweaters! By far my favorite articles of clothing. (2) Faking my way through football season like the good girlfriend I am (at least I get a lot of thinking done while staring at the TV). (3) Trying my darndest to stay healthy and not catch a cold. (4) Chapped winter skin.

The last of these two go hand-in-hand: I find myself washing my hands A LOT trying to avoid any germs from coworkers, fellow bus riders, etc., but this dries my already chapped hands even more!

This DIY antibacterial and moisturizing foaming handsoap is bound to be my saving grace in the upcoming months. Best yet, it’s all-natural, unlike those toxic store-bought antibacterial handsoaps (yeah, I’m looking at you, triclosan).

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/4 cups water (filtered or previously boiled and now cooled to room temperature)
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 4 teaspoons vegetable glycerine
• 3 teaspoons sweet almond oil (or another skin oil of choice such as coconut or jojoba oil)*
• 5 drops lemon essential oil*
• 10 drops red thyme essential oil
• 10 drops rosemary essential oil

*Note: you can make the soap without these ingredients. They simply add to the antibacterial/moisturizing properties of the soap.

Why these ingredients?

Lemon essential oil and red thyme essential oil both have strong natural antibacterial properties.

The vegetable glycerine and sweet almond oil leave hands subtly moisturized, while the vegetable glycerine also increases the foaming power of the soap.

Rosemary essential oil acts as a natural preservative (which is necessary given the fact that the recipe includes water).

Directions:

1. Add the ingredients in the order listed (if you add the soap before the water, it will become a sudsy explosion!).
2. Stir the mixture gently, mixing everything together. The castile soap will cause the mixture to look cloudy.
3. Put the mixture into your foaming handsoap dispenser and voilà! Now you have an all-natural, antibacterial and moisturizing foaming handsoap, and you made it!
4. As always, give yourself a pat on the back while saying, “I’m so clever.”

NOTE: the mixture will separate, so give it a little shake before each use!

P.S Like my homemade mason jar foaming soap dispenser? Check out how easy it is to make your own!